Soap dispenser



M. ALLAND SOAP DISPENSER Filed Jan. 29, 1930 atroz neg,

May 5, 1931.

M ad .In n@ 6 IML.-

Patented May 5, 1931 Price Y MAURICE ALL-AND, OF ATLANTIC CETY, NEW JERSEY SGA? DSPENSER Application ledplanuary 29, 1330. Serial No. 424,181.

The object of this invention is to provide improvements in soap dispensers and espe.- cially in that type which is designed to grat-e soap in cake form for direct delivery to one or both hands of the user.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which permits the use of'calres of a wide range of sizes and shapes so that in ones home he may use cakes of his one or l@ more favorite soaps with an equal degree of efficiency in the operation of the device.

A further object is to so construct the de vice that when used in public places the soap cake is locked in operative position so as to prevent its being stolen without destroying the cake form, together with audible means designed to discourage the wasting of the soap by grating off more than may be necessary.

Still another object is to provide in such a device an improved feed mechanism which permits movement of the soap-holding means in one direction but prevents its movement in the opposite direction except when a key or instrument of special design is employed, such mechanism in this instance comprising a fixed rack, a worm in normal mesh with lsaid rack, a worm gear normally rotatable with said worm, and a manually rotatable worm in mesh with said gear,rotation of said lastnamed worm operating to move in one direction soap-engaging means connected to said first-named worm, but movement of said means in the opposite direction being possible only when the hub of said first worm is shifted longitudinally, to permit transverse shifting of said first worm out of engagement with said rack.

Further objects and details of construction are brought out in the following description, 4when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention partly in section; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa vertical section of a fragmentary portion of Fig. 1, showing the hub withdrawn and the rackengaging worm shifted laterally; and Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the hub, per se.

Referring to the drawings, a bracket is shown as comprising vertically spaced arms 3 and 4, between the outer free end portions of which extends a rod 5, having teeth upon one surface to form a rack 6. A member 7 surrounds three sides of said rod and is adapted to slide vertically thereon, being retained in union with said rod by means of a plate S, surrounding the fourth side of said rod. Said member has a freely extending hori- Zontal arm 9, provided with a centrally positioned aperture 10.

A soap-engaging element comprises a plate 11, from the opposite edge portions of which two spaced projections 12 extend downwardly, and are adapted to receive between them the upper portion of a cake of soap 13, while the lower portion of such soap (or in fact other desired substance) is in direct contact with a perforated grater or abrading member 14, which rests at its periphery upon a flange 15, carried by an annular arm 16 extending horizontally from the lower part of said rod. Y

The soap-engaging plate 11 is provided with a boss 17, which is rotatable within the aperture 10, and upon a reduced upward extending projection 18 there is secured a ratchet wheel 19, secured to saidboss by screws 20, or any other suitable means. In engagement with the teeth of this ratchet wheel is a pawl 21, pivotally carried by the member 7 within a recess 22,'to prevent counter rotation of said plate and any soap in engagementl therewith.

The under surface of the plate 11 is provided with a recess 23, from which a bore 24 extends upwardly through the boss 17 and projection 18, and through this bore extends an externally threaded tube 25, having a head A26, which is positioned within and fixed with respect to the recess 23. A hub 27 (shown per se in Fig. 4) is threaded upon said tube,

and is transversely out throughout its down-- wardly tapering lower portion to provide radially yielding portions 28, together having a conical outer surface which normally cooperates with the enlarged conical bore 29 of a relatively large worm wheel 30, the peripheral teeth 31 of which arev adapted to mesh with the teeth of the rack 6. Normally the hub 27 is in thelower position shown in Fig. l and maintains said Worm in operative position, but by rotating said hub by means of the key 32, or other suitable means, upon the tube 25, said hub is moved upwardly in the enlarged Worm bore 29, thus permitting said Worm to be shifted transversely or laterally free from engagement With said rack, and thereby permitting the free and relatively rapid movement of the member 7 vertically upon the rod 5.

A second ratchet 33 is secured to the under side of said Worm and its teeth are normally engaged by one or more resilient pawls 34, or other' suitable means for causing a certain amount of sound as said Worm is rotated, in order that When an unnecessary quantity of the soa-p is being grated this means will serve to sound a Warning, and thus notify others of the fact. For rotating the worm wheel l), a Worm is in engagement therewith, said last-named Worm being carried by a shaft 3G, journalled through arms 3T carried integrally by the supporting arm 9, said shaft being provided with a crank and handle structure 38 to permit the device to be actuated manually.

The upward movement of the hub 2i' is preferably limited by means of an adjustable collar 39, Which is normally fixed upon the tube 25. Also, the preferred construction comprises a rod 40, which extends through said tube, carrying a knob 4l upon its upper end, and its lower end carrying a plate 42 which serves to force the small stump of a soap cake downward, to minimize the amount between the arms which cannot reach the grater let. Vertical adjustment of said rod is provided for by means of surface threads l in engagement with a correspondingly threaded restricted lower portion dal of the bore 45 of the tube 25. Still further details may be added to the device, other than those which are essential to its actual operation, and many alterations may be made in the general construction 'and operation, Without departing from the scope 'of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A soap dispenser, comprising a bracket having a rack-tootl'ied portion, a member slidable thereon, a soap-engaging element carried by said member, a worm normally engaging said rack, a Worm gear normally connected to rotate with said worm, a second Worm in engagement with said gear, and a hub for said first Worm adapted to be moved longitudinally of its axis, 'to permit said first Worm to move transversely thereof freely from lengagement With said rack, to `peii'nit rapid 'movement of said first member With respect to said rack.

2. A soap dispenser, comprising racktoothed portion, a member slidable thereon,

a soap-engaging element carried by said member, a Worm normally engaging said rack, a Worm gear normally connected to rotate with said Worm, and a hub for said first Worm adapted to be moved longitudinally of its axis, to permit said first Worm to move transversely thereof freely from engagement with said rack, to permit rapid movement of said first member with respect to said rack.

3. A soap dispenser, comprising a racktoothe'd portion, a member slidable thereon, a soap engaging element carried by said member, a Worm normally engaging said rack, a Worm gear normally connected to rotate With said Worm, a hub for said first Worm adapted to be moved longitudinally of its axis, to permit said first Worm to move transversely thereof freely from engagement with said rack, to permit rapid movement of said first member with respect to said rack, and a grating element fixed with respect to said 'rack and against which soap rotated by said first element is adapted to be pressed.

4.. A soap dispenser, comprising a bracket having a rack-toothed portion, a member slidable thereon, a soap-engaging element carried by said member, a Worm normally engaging said rack, a Worm gear normally connected to rotate With said Worm, a second Worm in engagement With said gear, a hub for lsai-d first Worm adapted to be moved longitudinally vof its axis, to permit said first Worm to move transversely thereof freely from engagement with said rack, to permit rapid movement of said iirst member with respect to said rack, and a. detachable grating element normally iiXedly Vcarried by said bracket and against which soap rotated by said iii-st element is adapted to be pressed.

5. A soap dispenser, comprising a bar provided Witli 'a rack, a member slid-able upon said bar, a soap-'engaging element rotatably carried by 'sai'd member, a Worm normally in engagement with said rack, an axis rod carried by said member, and a tapered hub ad.

justably carried by said rod and normally maintaining said Worm in engagement With said rack, said hub being longitudinally movable to permit transverse shifting of said Worm free from engagement with said rack, Ito permit rapidv movement of said member upon said bar.

6. A soap dispenser, comprising Ia bar provided with a rack, a member slidabl'e upon said bar. a soap-engaging element rotatably Vcarried by said member` a Worm normally in engagement With said rae-k. a toothed Wheel secured to said worm, a resilient membercarried bv said member and engaging the teeth Yof said Wheel to create aai 'audible sound when the dispenser is in operation, an axis rod earried by said member, and fa. tapered hub yadjustably carried 'by said rod and normally maintaining said worm in engagement with said rack, said hub being :longitudinally :mov-

able to permit transverse shifting of said Worm free from engagement with said rack, to permit rapid movement of said member upon said bar.

7. A soap dispenser, comprising a bar provided with a rack, a member slidable upon said bar, a soap-engaging element rotatably Carried by said member, a Worm normally in engagement with said rack, an axis rod oarried by said member, a tapered hub adjustably carried by said rod and normally maintaining said Worm in engagement With said rack, said hub being longitudinally movable to permit transverse shifting of said Worm free from engagement With said rack, to permit rapid movement of said member upon said bar, a Worm gear secured to said element, and a manually rotatable Worm Carried by said member, to rotate said element and said tiret-named Worm.

8. A soap dispenser7 comprising a bar provided with a rack, a member slidable upon said bar, a soap-engaging element rotatably Carried by said member, a Worm normally in engagement with said rack, an axis rod earried by said member, a tapered hub adjustably carried by said rod and normally maintaining saidv Worm in engagement with said rack, said hub being longitudinally movable to permit transverse shifting of said Worm free from engagement with said rack, to permit rapid movement of said member upon said bar, a Worm gear secured to said element, a manually rotatable Worm carried by said member, to rotate said element and said firstnamed Worm, and a spring-pressed paWl earried by said member and engaging said Worm gear to normally prevent rotation of said irst Worm in the opposite direction while in engagement with said rack.

In testimony whereof I have afiXed my signature.

MAURICE ALLAND. 

